Look Who's Turning the Number Two?!

This is our little boy?! I can't believe how much time has gone by and how quickly! We went to Lagoon as a family for Caden's big day. He just wanted to see anything that resembled a car, truck, or airplane! He had fun and we all had a blast. He's grown up SO much it just the last year it floors me! We're grateful for this little man in our lives and in our family-our family would not feel complete.

Happy Birthday Katija!

Katija & Leah striking a pose. They were trying to be serious but are smirking instead. It's Katija's 10 th birthday today and I can't believe its been that long. How does time go so fast?

Natalie & Eliza

Here we are at Katija's choice for dinner...Chuck-a-rama!

From Washington to Utah in 14 hours!

Okay, we're totally babies and gave up on our vacation a day early. We were so tired and drained for sleep that we decided to just grin and bare it...and take the long trip home. Can I just say for a first vacation picking a 1900 mile round trip was not a good idea on our part?! Now driving to Idaho Falls will seem like around the block! That and using an Atlas, I've realized how many things in our own state I have NO clue on! I'm coming up with a list and I want to see who can name the most Utah cities - I didn't know they existed or even where on a map I would find them. Plus there are some tips I am going to add that list the dos and don't s for when you're out of town. We haven't been trained in this art and a lot of them would have come in handy!! Some maybe old school and no new news for you...but I'm new at this and I found it enlightening! So I'll come back with the list later, but it has some good things on it though! Things for you new to travel travelers will find to be great information :)! I'm off to bed but wanted to say... HELLO to all and I'm so glad to be back home! We just love our area and neighborhood so well that I can't bear to part with it! I get home sick. We have a lot of pictures and videos to add and will upload them when I can :)

Holy mama-here we are right now on a ferry heading towards Edmonds, WA. Never been on one-is it sad that I'm a bit nervous?! Here are a few comments coming from our van: Are we moving? Can we get out of our car? It doesn't even feel like we're moving! Why is there only a net in the back of the boat instead of a strong iron door? Do they want us to fall out? ...and finally from Caden- Ugh, I'm STUCK! He wants out of his car seat :).

Check out the view...

This is the view from the condo sliding glass window. You can see this view from every window in the place. The kids have collected shells every morning-there will have to be sorting and intervention or we'll be coming home w/the whole beach!

PS For all those who're asking...we're in Discovery Bay, Washington - it's been fun and it's been beautiful!

Here's our view from the boat on our way to Oraca Island. No whales yet - but we're still hopeful!

It looks like I've done nothing today-wow! How's that possible when I can't remember the last time I've sat down? I clean to sit in clutter instead of filth :)

Two teeth down-how many more to go?

Natalie lost her first tooth about 2 wks ago. It was by accident really and ended up surprising herself in the process. She is now in the 2 bottom teeth missing club and was very excited to loose at least one before she left kindergarten. I don't know how these kids are such slow tooth loose'rs'. That's definitely not from me. The fear it'll hurt is most likely from me though :)

Where's the Easter grass?

I had to note some items to show how full the baskets were without grass! Its just full of...yup, CANDY! Chad said,"Don't ask me to go do if you don't want all that candy". Clever genius he is :)-he's a cute one though and I'll take him!

More Easter...

The baskets all in a row...

Little Trivia...who knows what and where Delft is?

Leah had a culture fair at her school last week. She did very well and was pleased with all her hard work. The did a dance from the Mexican culture and had to do a desk display on a culture from their heritage. She picked the Netherlands-I won't lie I was happy she chose from my heritage (sorry Chad). Opa & Oma were there on hand to help with some items-well all the items that were displayed from the Netherlands. She loved it and looks so cute in her Dutch hat! Here she is wearing her hat and sitting by her desk display. She definitely one with the most things on display. Oma & Opa kindly grabbed some dutch cookies for Leah to hand out-she was very excited to do this. Thanks Oma & Opa you were so helpful and very much a life saver for me! Oh and the trivia answer is...The Netherlands, also hand painted earthen ware :)

We have roller coaster rides at our house :)...

When I was taking down the crib and setting Caden's room up for his big boy bed; the kids where all over "helping" me. Natalie started giving Caden "rides" but after so long it was making Caden sleepy. If she stopped for too long he'd demand she keep going. I don't have the demanding request for her to "KEEP GOING" on the video; but you can see how much he was enjoying it. After so long Natalie said,"Whoa I'm getting dizzy!". So she sat on the floor and spun the chair with her feet instead. She's a great helper for her sisters and brother!

What Easter Bunny came to your house and how can I hire him?!

Ok so this is what you get when "daddy" is left to talk to the Easter bunny. Let me just say...there's NO grass in their baskets. Its ALL candy-who gets a whole bag of jelly beans for themselves?! Oh...the Lance kids that's who. They were also treated to a whole pack of peeps not one of the total three (maybe 2) rows ALL ROWS, WHOLE PACKAGE = ALL PURE SUGAR! It was really cute to see what Chad had picked for each of them though. You should have witnessed the big eyes. This year was the first for both Eliza and Caden to care and understand. That always helps to make a holiday more enjoyable. All in all it was a great Easter! Leah was baptized the day before, I'm still in shock over that one too. Those pictures will be coming soon.

Where's my nice boy?

Caden is a dance maniac so I was going to get him to perform on camera-yeah because that actually happens! So instead you can see how he goes from monster to angelic in two seconds. If I tell him he's a nice boy and ask where my nice boy is-he'll change in an instant. Here's the transformation for you.

He's got talent?!

Caden gets a big boy bed?!

I can't believe we're here and doing this already! How did this happen so soon and why does it have to be bitter sweet? He's so big and growing up so fast. He was "helping" me but decided we needed a quick game of hide and seek instead.

Updates are coming...

Hi all I know it's been forever since I've last updated our family Blog. I'm sorry for that it's been very crazy at our house-a lot has helped to keep me away from the computer! I promise I'll be updating more often-one problem has been our lack of camera. It some how has been broken so adding pictures and videos is...well almost impossible. Now that i can text to the blog, it will help with the transition for now. I'll send more later because my family is paging me right now.